Is it good to have a cheat meal when trying to lose weight?

Yes. In fact, having a regularly scheduled cheat day each week can actually be good for weight loss by preventing binges, reducing cravings, providing a mental break from dieting, and boosting metabolism—if it’s done in a healthy way. In fact, most don’t want to or feel they need to their first few weeks of a diet.

How often should you have a cheat meal when losing weight?

There is no specific guideline for when or how frequently your cheat meal or day should occur. Often people will include one cheat per week, but this can change depending on what the person’s health or weight loss goals are.

Will one cheat day ruin my progress?

Do cheat days ruin your progress? A cheat day every once in a while will not erase weeks and months of consistent workouts and healthy eating. Cheat days can help keep you stay motivated long-term if you practice mindful eating. But remember, this doesn’t mean you can get carried away on cheat days.

How do cheat meals affect your metabolism?

This increase in metabolism can last for days after your body digests a cheat meal, thus offsetting the drop in hormones that occurs when the calorie-deficit diet is again resumed. As a result, a scheduled cheat meal can actually help optimize our body’s hormones to avoid weight-loss plateaus and prevent it from entering starvation mode.

Can cheat meals actually be beneficial?

Know the changes that occur within your body due to dietary caloric and carbohydrate restriction to help you understand why a cheat meal can actually be beneficial. Here’s a quick hormonal tour! Leptin, a protein mainly produced by fat tissue, regulates appetite and energy balance in the body.

Do you need cheat meals to build muscle?

While your goal should be to fully satisfy your junk food desires, cheat meals still require some form moderation and compromise. Remember, your body still needs the three essential macronutrients, protein, carbohydrates, and fat, for energy and to build muscle.

Is a cheat day the same as binge eating?

So, if you think a cheat day is a euphemism for binge eating, think again. However, carefully strategizing your cheat day to reap the increased leptin levels can mean a welcome boost in metabolism.